Your Graduate Attributes

Video transcript

What are Graduate Attributes? 

At UoB, we aim to empower you to thrive in all aspects of work, life and study. Graduate Attributes are the key skills and values you’re developing across your university experience both inside and outside of your degree. 

Our goal is to support you to develop these attributes to help you flourish in your future professional and personal lives. 

How do I develop Graduate Attributes?  

You’re developing Graduate Attributes across everything you do at UoB, including both curricular and extra-curricular activities. It’s really important to get involved and make the most of everything the University has to offer! 

To support your journey, we offer a range of university-wide development opportunities, including: 

  • My Attributes: a bespoke UoB personal development platform where you can record, review and develop your Graduate Attributes

  • The Birmingham Award: UoB’s recognised employability skills award 

The full list of UoB Graduate Attributes


Remember: while no list is perfect or definitive, these attributes are designed to support you to reflect on the broad range of skills and values you’re currently developing or may wish to develop in the future. 

Intellectually Curious 

To be self-motivated researchers and learners; engaging in cutting-edge academic disciplines. 

  • Subject specialists:  

Experts in discipline-specific knowledge and enquiry-informed practices. 

  • Critical and creative thinkers:  

Analytical and independent reflective thinkers. 

  • Interdisciplinary:  

Possessing a breadth of knowledge beyond specialist subject that is shared with others. 

Future Focused 

To be resilient and innovative in the activation of positive change with a commitment to lifelong learning and personal development. 

  • Instinctively digital:  

Ability to use and evaluate new and emerging digital technologies. 

  • Entrepreneurial spirit:  

Creative with the ability to generate ideas and lead change that benefits others. 

  • Sustainability focused:  

Committed to sustainable development in every aspect of life. 

Practical Wisdom 

To act with humility, confidence and good judgment to do the right thing at the right time. 

  • Socially engaged:  

Actively helps others and the wider community to flourish. 

  • Natural collaborators:  

Works collaboratively and can communicate with diverse audiences. Removes barriers for people who are different from themselves. 

  • Courageous integrity:  

Takes on new challenges. Committed to truth and acts in alignment with moral principles.

Can you show me examples of where I might develop each attribute?

The below list suggests one example of a UoB opportunity where you can develop each of the attributes.

Note: There are many opportunities across your university experience both inside and outside of your degree in which you can develop Graduate Attributes. The below list is not exhaustive and provided only as a suggestion to help you to get started.

Make sure to always keep exploring other opportunities to develop these attributes.

To develop intellectual curiosity, you might consider:

To become future focused, you may want to:

To develop your ability to act with humility, confidence and good judgment, you can potentially:

  • Become more socially engaged through joining a student group via the Guild of Students.
  • Develop your collaboration skills by completing the online employability course Managing Group Dynamics.
  • Enhance your ability to act with courageous integrity by becoming a Student Rep, representing the views of your cohort through programme, School, or College-level discussions and committee meetings.

An Employer Perspective: Graduate Attributes Videos 

In the following videos, you can hear from employers across a range of sectors discussing the skills and values they are most keen to see from students:

Video transcript
 In this first video, UoB alum Ben Illingworth (Procurement Director, Jaguar Land Rover) discusses the importance of students developing industry-relevant skills and attributes during their time at UoB.

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 In this second video, UoB alum Amarjit Sahota (Principal Consultant, NECS Consultancy) discusses why teamwork, collaboration, and creative and critical thinking skills are key attributes for students to develop during their time at UoB.

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 In this third video, UoB alum Verity Stokes (Director, Angela Mortimer Plc / Katie Bard Recruitment) highlights what makes graduates from the University specifically attractive to employers.

 

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